hʷɨtif num. five cinq (4 groups, 14 languages) B syn: ɮɨɗɨm, ɬensi.
This is one of three widely attested roots for 'five'. It is found in the groups of the Nigerian Plains. Proto-Central Chadic had no *f, but *p was realised as [f] in word-final position. If this root comes from Proto-Central Chadic, then the final consonant would be *p. However it is more likely that this root originated later, at a time when the *p/*f distinction had been phonemicized, and for this reason the final consonant is given as *f. The initial *hʷ is retained only in the Lamang group. In Proto-Higi it has the reflex *w. In the Bata and Margi groups, the labialisation component has transferred to the *f, from where it has become vocalised. These are common sporadic changes. The *t has become *ts in Proto-Higi, which is an irregular change, and this has been palatalised by the following *i. There is metathesis of *w and *ts in the two Kamwe dialects, a sporadic process.
1Proto-Bata *tifʷ five cinq 1.1) Bata (Boyd) túf five 1.2) Gude (Hoskinson) tufə five 1.3) Jimi (Djibi) tefʷə Cinq 5 1.4) Sharwa (Gravina) təf, təfkə Cinq, cinquième
2Proto-Margi *tɨfʷ five cinq 2.1) Bura (Blench) ntufu Five 2.2) Margi South (Harley) təffu five 2.3) Kilba (Schuh) təfu/u five
3Proto-Lamang *hʷɨtaf five cinq 3.1) Lamang (Wolff) xʷtáfá five 3.2) Hdi (Bramlett) hutaf five cinq
4Proto-Higi *wɨtsʲɨfɨ five cinq 4.1) Kamwe-Nkafa (Harley) ntʃùfə́ Five 4.2) Kamwe-Futu (Harley) mtʃwafə five 4.3) Kirya (Blench) ntʃìfə̀ five 4.4) Psikye (Angelo) mtʃéfə́ five 4.4.1) Psikye (Angelo) mtʃèf five 4.5) Bana (Lienhard) tʃíf[(ə́) cinq
This is one of three widely attested roots for 'five'. It is found in the groups of the Nigerian Plains. Proto-Central Chadic had no *f, but *p was realised as [f] in word-final position. If this root comes from Proto-Central Chadic, then the final consonant would be *p. However it is more likely that this root originated later, at a time when the *p/*f distinction had been phonemicized, and for this reason the final consonant is given as *f. The initial *hʷ is retained only in the Lamang group. In Proto-Higi it has the reflex *w. In the Bata and Margi groups, the labialisation component has transferred to the *f, from where it has become vocalised. These are common sporadic changes. The *t has become *ts in Proto-Higi, which is an irregular change, and this has been palatalised by the following *i. There is metathesis of *w and *ts in the two Kamwe dialects, a sporadic process.
1Proto-Bata *tifʷ five cinq 1.1) Bata (Boyd) túf five 1.2) Gude (Hoskinson) tufə five 1.3) Jimi (Djibi) tefʷə Cinq 5 1.4) Sharwa (Gravina) təf, təfkə Cinq, cinquième
2Proto-Margi *tɨfʷ five cinq 2.1) Bura (Blench) ntufu Five 2.2) Margi South (Harley) təffu five 2.3) Kilba (Schuh) təfu/u five
3Proto-Lamang *hʷɨtaf five cinq 3.1) Lamang (Wolff) xʷtáfá five 3.2) Hdi (Bramlett) hutaf five cinq
4Proto-Higi *wɨtsʲɨfɨ five cinq 4.1) Kamwe-Nkafa (Harley) ntʃùfə́ Five 4.2) Kamwe-Futu (Harley) mtʃwafə five 4.3) Kirya (Blench) ntʃìfə̀ five 4.4) Psikye (Angelo) mtʃéfə́ five 4.4.1) Psikye (Angelo) mtʃèf five 4.5) Bana (Lienhard) tʃíf[(ə́) cinq
